Page 40 of Hoarded By the Dragon

“Because of the balls,” Stella teases. “Oh, you’re such a sweet guy and you love Katarina, don’t you?”

The cat’s fur has a greasy texture to it, and the stark bones under the animal’s coat makes my heart ache.

“I can feel all his bones.” I sit cross-legged, and he chirps before curling into my lap, purring loudly.

Stella frowns. “A stray then. He’s so friendly that I doubt he’s feral. I’ll have to take him to the shelter. Mom is allergic to cats.”

I suck in a breath at the thought of taking the cat anywhere, let alone to a shelter with cages. I glance around the bright estate. It’s probably a paradise in his eyes.

“He can stay here,” I say.

Stella freezes. “Are you sure?”

I quirk my lips as the answer comes to me. The rightness of it is a sigh of relief on my senses. “He’ll be my cat.”

I run my fingers through greasy fur and am rewarded with a louder purr. “I’ve always wanted a pet.”

Stella opens her mouth before closing it. Probably to ask why I didn’t have a pet if I’ve always wanted one.

I’ve never deserved one. But this guy just literally fell into my life, and I’m not going to say no to him.

“He did choose you,” Stella says as if echoing my thoughts.

He closes his eyes in pleasure, looking too thin but majestic at the same time. “I’ll name him Griffin.”

Ben’s voice comes from the house and gets louder the closer he gets. “Katarina, I’m just checking if yourguestis going to stay for dinner—what the fuck is that?”

I turn my head, and Ben’s face is contorted in horror.

“It’s a cat,” Stella says, her tone flat.

“I can see that. What if it’s someone who spelled themselves to spy on you?” Ben asks.

I frown and look at Griffin. Is that even possible?

Stella guffaws. “Give me a little credit, Barnes. I would have sensed that type of spell. It’s a damn cat.”

Ben breathes in through his nostrils before responding. “That may be, but I’m not sure Kalos wants adamncat wandering the house.”

Anger sparks at that.

Stella is already snapping in response. “Too bad. You are now a beneficiary of the Cat Distribution System.”

Before they start fighting about whatever that is, I insert myself. “Kalos isn’t the only person who lives here. I’ve done everything he’s asked of me without complaining. This is my home too, and I want to keep Griffin.”

Ben and Stella blink at me, but he recovers, his lip twitching. “Well, if that’s the law of the land, who am I to argue?” He looks down. “I assume we’re going to need to go on a supply run for… Griffin.”

15

KALOS

I let outthe breath I’m holding the moment I lose sight of Katarina and her friend from my place at the window. No doubt they mean to relax in the shade of the trees after doing their yoga. I never know if catching glimpses of the woman living under my roof is better for my beast or worse.

Each stolen sight yanks at him, but the days when I don’t see her, he whines and scrapes at my self-control.

I expected her to tell me to leave the first time I’d joined her in bed, the scent of her tears still in the air, but she softened for me. She allowed me to contribute to the child inside of her the only way I’m able to.

I consider the routine of cradling her body in mine and feeding her the heat energy she needs the same as adding fire to a dragon egg. It’s a sacred duty. One I’ve done twice in my life and never expected to again.

---